Manufacture of unit strip assemblies



sept. zo, 1949.

A. L. 'ERICKSON MANUFAG'PURE OF UNIT STRIP ASSEMBLIES a `sheets-sheet 1 Filed May 29, 1944 y INVENTOR.'

Sept. 20, 1949., A. l.. ERICKSON MANUFACTURE 0F UNIT STRIP ASSEMBLIES U'COOOIUOGIOO..OIGUDOIQDOIIIOQ ...IICOOIIIIDI 2 M, R t N N N O m M A m m A m A M m h es E... EJ EJ E3 EJ EJ EJ EJ E s O O O O V 4W .MW m D M m M D D D m m m A m y n m o o o o o c c. S w m am am 3m 3m .uw Je um 8 wm, m m m m m m l m A m w mm, m wm. cwm, w m Y c m m c ...COQIOUQU0060....OIDIIIIOUOIOOOIII.....IWQVOOOIOI @n v.. B wm m 1 l l 9. 2 w M d L., QN n N LN Filed May 29,` 1944 A. L. ERICKSON 2,482,613

MANUFACTURE 0F UNIT STRIP ASSEMBLIES 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 .zal

uluullllm.

ENT OR.

Mya@ A. L. ERICKSON MANUFACTURE oF UNIT STRIP AssEMBLIEs sept. 2o, 1949.

IIIIIBII 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 29, 1944 Sept. 29 1949. A. L.. ERICKSON MANUFACTURE OF UNITSTRIP ASSEMBLIES 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 29, 1944 Sept. 20, 1949. A. l.. ERxcKsoN I MANUFACTURE OF UNIT STRIP ASSEMBLIES 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 29, 1944 A. l.. ERICKSON v MANUFACTURE OF UNT S'TRIP ASSEMBLIES Sept. 20, 1949.

8 Shets-Sheet 7 fmed lay 29, 1944 Sept. 20, 1949. A. ERICKSON Y MANUFACTURE OF UNIT. STRIP ASSEMBLIES '8 Sheets-Sheet 8 F-led May 29, 1944 INVENTOR.

mmh WN:

Patented Sept. 20, 1949 MANUFACTURE F UNIT STRIP ASSEMBLIES Andiew L. Erieksomcincinnati, ohio, assigner to Ditto, Incorporated, Chicago, Ill., a. corporation of West Virginia Application May z9,1944,seriamo.5s7,9sz

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to the manufacture of unit strip assemblies and has as `its principal object the provision of a novel and edective method whereby a web of paper or other sheet-like material can be divided up into a series of sheets assembled in overalpped relation with like portions of each sheet below the top sheet exposed to view from either side of the assembly.

Unit strip assemblies as referred to herein comprise assemblies of a plurality of sheets arranged so that each sheetl from the bottom to the top of a series is offset in the same direction, thereby leaving a portion of the lower sheet exposed at one side edge so that the exposed portion of each of the sheets may receive an impression from a master copy, a printing press or other means in a. single duplicating or printing operation while the several sheets are held together as a unit. According to the present invention it is contemplated that assemblies of this character may be made from a web or a. plurality of webs. The assemblies may be of plain material or the webs may contain information previously printed, typed or otherwise applied thereto. For example, the invention is particularly applicable to the manufacture of unit strip assemblies of checks which are printed while the paper is still in web form. The printing is arranged on the checks so as to leave space at one edge for insertion of such material as the name of the payee, the Social Security number, and the amount of the check.

According to my invention I provide the printed web with transverse slits separating the several printed forms thereon and I then arrange a series of lengths of such printed web so that their leading edges are offset. The transverse slits are equally spaced from the leading edges 'of the several lengths so that if the several lengths are laid one upon each other with the leading edge of each sheet from the bottom to the top set back a half inch all of the transverse slits in the group will be oiset the same amount. It is possible by this method to superpose any desired number of lengths within reason. For example, there may be five to flfty lengths oi the printed web. The transverse slits are terminated short of the side edges of the web so that there is ample stock to enable the lengths to be handled as individual webs. In order to'make unit strip assemblies from the several lengths suitable means are provided along the side edgesfor securing the'superposed lengths to each other. A particularly advan- (Cl. 27o-52) tageous means for eilfecting this result is the application of small dots of adhesive to one surface of each length adjacent the side edges thereof and between the transverse slits. The objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully as the descriptien proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of the invention is shown. It is to be understood however that the drawings and description are illustrative only and are not to be taken as limiting the invention except'insofar as it is limited by the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a web printing device by which the several forms which are to be assembled in the unit strip assemblies may be printed;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2 -2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a web made in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 6 illustrating an adhesive applying and web length assembling and trimming device embodied in my invention;

Fig. 6 is a view taken substantially on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 'l is a fragmentaryperspective view ofv a plurality of lengths of the printed web illustrating how the several lengths are superposed and attached to each other;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 8--8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 9 9 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken 40 on the line Illl0 of Fig. 12 illustrating the trimming operation;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line II-II of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on the line l2- I2 of Fig. 5.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the mechanism shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3 is arranged to take a web i5 of paper from a roll i6 and direct it between the rollers l1 and i8 of a printing couple. Any other suitable printing means may be used. The roller l1 is inked by a group I9 of inking rollers in any well known manner. After the web is printed upon it passes next to a suitable mechanism which is adapted to punch a .5 multiplicity of evenly spaced apertures in the f 21 has a gear 41 attached thereto.

55 and 56 which drive the inking rollers.

3 side edges of the web. As illustrated, the punching is accomplished by an upper roller 2| and a lower roller 22 carrying cooperating die elements 23 and punch elements 24. Provision is made for punching rows of apertures along both side edges of the web although in certain cases one series of apertures may be suicient. Other registering means may also be provided. The web, upon leaving the mechanism 28, next passes to a slitting mechanism 25 which comprises an upper drum 28 and a lower drum 21. The lower drum is provided with a plurality of grooved blocks 28 adapted to receive slitting knives 29 that are mounted in the upper drum 28. The slittingl knives are controlled in their operation by suitable cams 30 whichare mounted on a shaft 3|, the drum 26 of course being rotatably mounted on the shaft 3| and there being two of the cams 30 within the drum. Each of the knives 29 has two stems 32 extending inwardly therefrom and each stem carries a roller 33 that rides in the cam 30. The stems have springs 34 thereon held in compression between the knives 29 and plates 35 fastened on the drum so that the springs tend to force the knives outwardly into slitting position. It will be observed from Fig. 3 that when a knift is in the lowermost position the cams 30 permit the springs 34 to force `the knife 29 downward to thus make a transverse slit in the web |5. As shown best in Figs. 2 and 4, the length of the slitting knife 29 is such as to provide a slit 36 in the web which terminates inside the rows 31 and 38 of apertures punched in the side edges of the web by the mechanism 20. It is within the scope of my invention to make the transverse slits by a line of perforations or other weakening of the web sufiiciently to cause it to readily break along the transverse line.

After the printed, punched and slitted web leaves the slitting mechanism 25 it is wound upon a roller 39, there being a pressure roller 40 to drive the roller 39.

The drive mechanism for the printing, punching and slitting devices just described comprises a motor 4|, a speed reducer 42, a sprocket wheel 43, a chain 44, and a sprocket wheel 45 which is fixed to a shaft 46 of the drum 21. The drum This gear meshes with a gear 48 on the drum 26 so as to drive the slitting drum. The gear 41 is also connected by an intermediate pinion 49 to a gear 50 on the roller 22. The gear 50 meshes with a gear on the roller 2| sothat the rollers 2| and 22 will be driven in unison. The gear 58 also meshes with a pinion 52 that in turn meshes with a gear 53 on the lower roller I8 of the printing couple. The gear 53 meshes with a gear 54 on the upper roller I1 of the printing couple and the gear 54 in turn meshes with suitable gears All of the mechanism just described is carried by a framework 58 of any suitable construction.

Referring now to Fig. 4, the web I5 as shown first receives printed matter from the printing couple. Next it receives the rows of punched apertures 31 and 38 from the mechanism 20 and finally it receives the transverse slits 36 from the mechanism 25. The particular printing, punching and slitting mechanism shown may be combined or varied in accordance with good production practices within the scope of my invention.

The printed web is wound on the roller 39 until the desired length for the next step in the process has been provided. Wh'en a plurality of rollers 39 are provided with the desired lengths of printed, punched and slitted web the several rollers are then transferred to the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 5 to 12, inclusive.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated five rollers 39 as mounted in notches 59 which are provided in two vertical side plates 88 and 6| (see Fig. 6). The side plates and 8| are part oi' a framework 82 which mounts a plurality of adhesive applying devices B3 and which also mounts suitable guide rollers G4 and 85 to guide the webs from the rollers 39 past the adhesive applying devices. The mechanism shown applies adhesive along both side edges of the webs. However, one row of adhesive dots may be sufficient for some purposes. The framework 62 includes a base 86 and side Walls 81, 88, 69 and 18. Suitable upright angular frame members 1|, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 are provided for supporting the side walls and the rollers 64 and 65..

The base 66 has a portion 11 attached thereto, which portion is provided with side frames 18 that mount a drum 19. The drum 19 is carried on a shaft 80 which iS .iournaled in the side frames 18. This drum is provided with a.' multiplcity of pins 8| spaced apart to correspond to the punched openings 31 and 38 of the web, there being a row of pins 8| at each end of the drum.

In initially applying the webs carried by the rollers 39 to the mechanism just described, the webs are led from the rollers 39 over the guiding rollers 84 and 65 to the drum 19 where the bottom web |5a is rst attached to the drum 19 by having the openings 31 and 38 therein engaged with the pins 8|. The next web |5b is then attached to the drum in the same fashion but with its leading edge set back from the leading edge of the web I 5a. an amount equal to a multiple of the distance between the pins 8|. The exact amount depends upon the amount of overlap ultimately desired in the unit strip assembly. For example, if the punched openings 31 and 38 are one-quarter inch apart and it is desired to have one-half inch overlap the web |5b will have its leading edge set back to the second pin from where the leading edge of the web |5a was attached. In a like manner the webs |5c, |5d and l5e will be attached to the drum 19. This manner of attaching the webs is illustrated iny Fig. 10.

Referring now to the adhesive applying mechanism, this mechanism is best shown by reference to Figs. 5, 6, 8 and 9. The adhesive applying devices 83 are all alike but they are so mounted as to be equally spaced from the leading edges of the respective webs to which they are to apply adhesive. This Vis necessary in order to have the adhesive applied at the correct spots between the transverse slits 36 in the webs |5. In order to mount the adhesive applying devices 63 and operate them I provide two stub shafts 82 which are mounted by two brackets 83 which are secured to the members 1| and 12. The stub shafts 82 carry upwardly extending bars 84 which at their upper ends are turned outwardly as indicated at 85. These outwardly turned ends 85 of the bars 84 carry spring pressed pins 86 which are directed inwardly to engage in suitable openings 81 provided in flanges 88 that are provided on a cover 89. The cover 89 is secured to the members 1|, 12, 13 and 14. Each of the bars 84 has connected thereto a plurality of adhesive pots 90, there being two adhesive pots for each web that passes through the device so as to apply the adhesive along both side edges of the web.

' as shown. the adhesive pots so are bolted to the bars 84 by bolts 9| (see Figs. 5 and 9), which bolts pass through slots 92 provided in the bars. This arrangement is necessary to permit certain vertical adjustment of the adhesive pots for a purpose which will presently appear.

The abhesive pots 90 are secured at the sides opposite the bolts 9| by means of rods 93 which are mounted upon the upright frame members 1|l 12, 13 and 14. These rods 93 are carried by inwardly projecting portions 1|', 12', 13 and 14' integral with the frame members. The adhesive pots have spaced ears 94 thereon through which the rods 93 pass. The ears 94 are slotted as shown at 95 so that the adhesive pot can be lifted off of the rod 93 when it is desired to remove the same for cleaning. In removing the adhesive pot for cleaning it is of course necessary to remove the bolt 9| also. It will be observed from an inspection of Fig. 5 that the adhesive pots can be moved to the right or left from the position shown in Fig. 5 by swinging the arms or bars 84 about their pivot points on the stub shafts 82. The spacing of the adhesive pots and the curvature of the arms 84 are such that thev adjustment of the pots can be made to correspond to adjustment of the overlapping of the leading edges of the webs |5a to |5e, inclusive. It is believed to be clear that if the leading edges of the webs |5b, |5c, |5d and |5e are set back a distance of three of the pins 8| on the drum 19 instead of two as shown in Fig. 10. The adhesive pots, in order to properly align, would have to be moved progressively further back from the lower pot to the upper pot in order to have the adhesive applying fingers in the proper position with respect to the transverse slits 36 in their respective webs.

In order to apply adhesive from the adhesive pots to a web passing over them I provide in each adhesive pot a plurality of fingers 96. The ngers 96 are mounted upon a sleeve 91 (see Fig. 6) that is keyed to a shaft 98 which extends across the adhesive pot and which is journaled in bearings 99 provided on the members 1|, 12, 13 and 14. It will be understood of course that there is a shaft 98 and a set of ngers 96 for each adhesive pot. The adhesive lpots are preferably provided with notches in their -side edges so that the shafts 98 may extend down below the top level of the pots.

The adhesive applying fingers 96 must be rocked between a lower position where they dip into the adhesive within the pots to a raised position where they contact the under surface of a web extending between the rollers 64 and 85. The means for rocking the fingers arev shown best in Figs. and 8. Each of the shafts 98 has amxed thereto a. lever arm |0|. The several lever arms |0| extend outwardly to engage pins |02 which are provided upon vertically reciprocating bars |03. The ends of the lever arms 0| are bifurcated as indicated at |04 to receive the pins |02. The bars |03 are guided vertically by guide brackets |05 and |06. The brackets |05 and |05 are mounted upon the members 13 and 14. In order to vertically reciprocate the bars |03 I provide these bars at their lower ends with cam rollers |01, which cam rollers are adapted to engage two oppositely disposed cams |08 that are fixed upon a shaft |09. The bars |03 are urged downwardly by two springs |03' which have one end attached to the bars and the other end attached to the members 13 and 14. The shaft |89 is carried by two bearing brackets ||0 and mounted on the members 13 and 14, respectively. The shaft |09 also carries a sprocket wheel ||2 which is driven by a sprocket chain ||3. The sprocket chain ||3 is in turn driven by a. sprocket wheel ||4 mounted on a shaft ||5 of a speed reducing unit ||6 that is driven from a motor ||1. The shaft ||5 alsohas a sprocket wheel ||8 thereon which drives a chain ||9 that in turn engages a sprocket wheel |20 fixed to the drum 19.

Referring now to Figs. 5, 6, 10, 1l and 12, these figures illustrate the means by which the webs are drawn from the rollers 39 through the adhessive applying device and then trimmed so as to convert the webs into a series of separate unit strip assemblies. The drum 19 as shown is provided with four annular grooves |2|, |22,`|23 and |24 (see Fig. 11). The grooves |2| and |22 carry circular knives |25 and |26. The grooves |23 and |24 are adapted to receive stripper bars |21 and |28. The knives |25 and |26 are made accessible for replacement and resharpening by providing the drum 19 with removable end rings |29 and |30. These end rings are also the parts of the drum which carry the pins 8|. Cooperating with the knives |25 and |28 are two exterior knives or cutters |3| and |32. The knives |3| and |32 are fixed on a shaft |33 which is journaled in the side frames 18. The shaft |33 has a pinion |34 fixed thereon. The pinion |34 meshes with a gear |35 that is fixed to the hub |38 of the drum 19 by means of screws |31. The gears |34 and |35 serve to eiect rotation of the knives |3| and |32 at the same peripheral speed as the peripheral speed of the drum 19. The sprocket wheel |20 is fixed to the other hub |38 of the drum 19 by screws |39.

In order to press the webs |5a, etc. together as they are drawn about the drum 19 I provide two rollers |40 and |4|. These rollers are fixed on a shaft |42 which in turn is carried by and journaled in two arms |43 and |44 that are fixed on a shaft |45. The shaft |45 is journaled Ein the side frames 18. The arms |43 and |44 are pressed in a. direction to cause the rollers |40 and |4| to bear against the webs by two springs |46 and |41 in the manner illustrated in Figs. 5 and 12. When the webs are being applied to the pins 8| on the drum 19 it is necessary to lift the rollers |40 and |4| away from the drum 19. I therefore provide the shaft |45 with a lever arm |48. The lever arm |48 is fixed to the shaft |45 and it carries a latch member |49 which can be hooked over the shaft |33 to thus hold the rollers |40 and |4| away from the drum.

The stripper bars |21 and |28 are carried upon a cross bar |50 that extends between the side 'frames 18 and is fastened to the side frames.

|53 may be utilized. This conveyor is not shownv in detail since any suitable conveyor is acceptable for this purpose. As shown. the conveyor comprises a belt |54 which travels over a roller |55 carried by a shaft |56 that is journaled in the side frames 13. The members |5| and |52 which provide the pockets for the trimmings act also as side guides for the belt |54 and may be extended along the conveyor as far as is necessary. As shown, these members and |52 are merely metal strips having one end secured to the side frames 18 and having the other end secured to some part of the conveyor not shown.

Referring now to Fig. '1, the assembly of the several webs |5a, |5b, |5e, I5d and |5e is shown as it would appear after the several webs have been brought together on the drum 19. The web assembly has been cut along the line where the adhesive has been applied to one surface of each web. The adhesive is indicated by the dots |51. The transverse slits are shown as extending outwardly beyond the line of the dots |51. It will be noted that due to the proper spacing of the adhesive applying iingers and the adhesive pots the dots |51 on the under surface of the web |5e appear in regular groups of four between the transverse slits 36. Likewise the adhesive dots |51 as applied to the under surface of the web |5d appear in regular groups of four between the transverse slits 36 of the web |5d. The same is true of the webs I 5c and |5b. The web |5a being the bottom web does not need to have adhesive applied thereto. This is shown clearly by Fig. 8 where it is evident that no adhesive is applied to the under surface of the web |5a. After both side edges of the assembled webs are trimmed 01T the assembly of webs separates along the lines of the transverse slits 36 into unit strip assemblies all of the same size, with the individual sheets thereof adhered together by the dots |51 of adhesive along both their edges. The knives of course cut the webs between the line of the adhesive dots and the adjacent ends of the transverse slits 36 leaving the adhesive dotson the intermediate portion but removing the punched edges and cutting far enough inward from the punched edges to intersect the transverse slits 36.

In applying the adhesive by means of the ngers 96 it is desirable to back up the web while it is passing over the lingers and therefore I provide a depending bar |58 on the under surface of each of the adhesive pots 90 except the two lower ones (see Fig. 9). The cover 89 is provided with two depending bars |58' like the bars |58 to provide backing for the top web when all of the glue pots are used. The bars |58 and |58 are of just such depth as to permit ready clearance of the webs when they are drawn taut between the rollers 64 and 65. After the adhesive is applied it must not be spread or scattered by the rollers 65 so I provide these rollers with sections of reduced diameter indicated at |59 and |60 in Fig. 8 of the drawings. The adhesive dots therefore are carried, without any disturbance, from their point of application until the webs are brought together on the drum 19. Whenthe webs are brought together the rollers |40 and |4| ride upon the portions of the webs that carry the adhesive dots and thus force the webs firmly together at this point, making sure that the adhesive dots will cause the two engaging faces of the webs to stick together.

This apparatus is a continuous feed apparatus. That is to say,`the drum 19 is rotated continuously. The adhesive fingers 96 therefore have to be engaged with the webs and retracted quickly in order to avoid streaking or smearing of the adhesive lengthwise of the web. The cams |08 are so designed as to eiect this type of operation. It will be noted that thecams are notched at |08a (see Fig. 5) so that when the rollers |01 ride into the notches |080, the bars |03 are dropped suddenly to the full extent of the drop necessary to bring the fingers 96 up against the webs. Then immediately the bars |03 are again raised slightly to withdraw the fingers from engagement with the webs with a very quick action. In this fashion the fingers are caused to apply thel adhesive to the webs so quickly that there is very slight longitudinal movement of the webs while the fingers are in engagement therewith. After the fingers are disengaged from the webs they are of course slowly lowered into the adhesive so that they again will be adequately coated for the next engagement with the webs.

The construction is such that the adhesive pots can be removed for cleaning and refilling without difllculty. The side walls 61 and 68 are hinged to the frame members 1I and 12 as indicated at 61 and 68' so that they may be swung open to permit ready access to the adhesive applying mechanism. It will also be noted from Fig. 9 that theside walls 61 and 68 are cut out to permit the outwardly turned portion of the bars 84 to pass.

From the foregoing description it is believed that the nature and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of making unit strips which comprises transversely slitting a web of paper from a point spaced from one margin of the web to a point spaced from the other margin thereof at uniformly spaced points along its length and thereafter attaching the leading edges of a series of lengths of the transversely slit web each in fixed relation to a common advancing member in such way that the slits are offset from top to bottom of the several lengths, applying securing means to the overlapped lengths between but spaced from the lines of severance provided by the slits whereby to secure the corresponding portions of the several lengths to each other, and thereafter cutting oi the side edges of the overlapped lengths at points spaced further from the margins of said web than the ends of said slits.

2. The method of making unit strips, which comprises transversely slitting webs of paper at uniformly spaced points along the length thereof, with slits terminating short of the side edges to leave continuous marginal connecting portions beyond the ends of said slits, superposing a group of webs with the transverse slits therein progressively offset lengthwise of the webs from one face of the group to the other, securingV the individual webs to the adjacent webs along the length of the group at points inwardly from the ends of said slits so that the portion of each web beween two transverse slits is secured to only :one corresponding portion of the adjacent web engaged with a face thereof, and separating the assembled webs into groups of sheets by cuts longitudinally of the webs intersecting the slits near their ends outwardly from said point of securement.

3. The method of making unit strips, which comprises transversely slitting webs of paper at uniformly spaced points along the length thereof, with slits terminating short of the side edges to leave continuous marginal connecting portions beyond the ends 0f said slits, superposing the webs with the transverse slits therein progressively offset lengthwise of the webs from one face of the group of webs to the other, securing the two contacting faces of the adjacent webs to each other by applying adhesive to at least one oi the contacting faces in the area between but spaced from the nearest adjacent transverse slits of both webs and spaced inwardly from the ends thereof, and separating the assembled webs into unit strip assemblies by separating the marginal connecting portions from said webs between said areas and the ends of said slits.

` 4. The method of making unit strips, which comprises transversely slitting webs of paper at uniformly spaced points along the length thereof, with slits terminating short of the side edges to leave continuous marginal connecting portions, superposing a group of webs with the transverse slits therein progressively oil'set lengthwise of the webs from one face of the group to the other, securing the webs to each other at points inwardly of the ends of the slits by applying longitudinally extending areas of adhesive just inwardly of the ends of the slits adjacent one side edge of the assembled webs, then trimming olf the marginal connecting portions of the webs outwardly from said points but inwardly of the ends of said slits to separate them into groups of overlapped sheets.

5. The method of making unit strips, which comprises transversely slitting webs of paper at uniformly spaced points along the length thereof, with slits terminating short of the side edges to leave continuous marginal connecting portions, superposing a group of webs with the transverse slits therein progressively offset lengthwise of the webs from one face of the group to the othe securing the webs to each other at points inwardly of the ends of the slits by applying longitudinally extending areas of adhesive just inwardly of the ends of the slits adjacent both side edges of the assembled webs, then trimming off the marginal connecting portions of the webs outwardly from said points but inwardly of the ends of said slits to separate them into groups of overlapped sheets.

6. A machine of the character described, comprising vertically spaced pairs oi' horizontally separated rollers adapted to support and guide a plurality of webs in vertically spaced paths, means for drawing the webs across said rollers and pressing them together after leaving said rollers, and adhesive applying means interposed between the paths of the webs over said rollers and operable to apply adhesive to the webs in passing from one roller of a pair to the other roller of said pair, said adhesive applying means each including fingers engaging the under surfaces of the webs and bars above the webs opposite said ngers, and means for simultaneously moving said ngers into engagement with a plurality of said webs.

7. A machine of the character described comprising a rotary member adapted to receive, advance and positively position a plurality or webs in a predetermined superposed relationship, means on said member engaging each of said webs to hold said webs positively in position on said rotary member, means for mounting said webs to guide the same in spaced paths to said member, means for applying adhesive to said webs while spaced, means cooperating with said web receiving member to press all said webs together, and means cooperating with said web receiving member while said webs are engaged with said positive positioning means to trim the edges of said webs while superposed after being pressed together.

8. A machine of the character described comprising a rotary member adapted to receive, advance, and position a plurality of webs in a predetermined superposed relationship, means on said member engaging each of said webs to hold said webs positively in position on said rotary member, means for mounting said webs to guide the same in spaced paths to said member, means for applying adhesive to said webs while spaced, means cooperating with said web receiving member to press all said webs together, means cooperating with said web receiving member while said webs are engaged with said positive positioning means to trim the edges of said webs while superposed after being pressed together, and a pair of laterally outwardly directed guide members cooperating with said rotary member to guide the resulting trimmings away from said web;

9. A machine for producing assemblies of sheets from webs provided with transverse slits terminating short of the side edges thereof, comprising means supporting said lwebs in spaced relation, an advancing member having means engaging said webs adjacent both margins thereof to draw said webs from the supporting means Yand relatively position the same, and means cooperating with said member to press all of said webs together simultaneously, adhesive applying means between the webs supported by said rst named means, and side edge trimmers comprising cutter members on said advancing member and cutter members cooperating therewith engaging the pressed together webs on said advancing member and removing the uncut side edges of the webs.

ANDREW L. ERICKSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record ln the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 510,641 Huewe Dec. 12, 1898 852,429 Gauch May 7, 1907 1,509,525 Murray et al. Sept. 23, 1924 1,557,170 Kaufman Oct. 13, 1925 1,745,358 Dambacher Feb. v4, 1930 2,013,086 Baker Sept. 3, 1935 2,100,776 Fulk Nov. 30, 1937 2,148,586 Scudds Feb. 28, 1939 2,177,675 Sherman Oct. 31, 1939 2,209,692 Fulk July 30, 1940 2,238,358 Williams Apr. 15, 1941 2,307,142 Lee Jan. 5, 1948 

